Resisting the Bush Doctrine: Reversing the Monroe Doctrine:-Flush with oil profit, led by a man who considers himself a protege of Bolivar and Castro, Latin America tries to assert iself. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Perú, Surinam, Uruguay and Venezuela make up Unasur.
In 1884 the government of Venezuela presented the City of New York with a bronze statue of Simon Bolivar. The gift was meant as a “token of admiration from the southern republic to her sister in the North.” Bolivar was considered the George Washington of the southern hemisphere, liberating not only Venezuela, but also Columbia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia from Spanish rule, instilling democracy as the governing power in the region. The sculptor R. de la Cora was commissioned to create the first monument, which was placed among a grove at West 83rd Street in Central Park known as Bolivar Hill.
This map shows the Spanish colonies in North and South America
After the liberation from Spain, Simon Bolivar created a union of South American states. Today his progeny in South America are trying to do the same.
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad de Bolívar y Palacios Blanco or more commonly known as Simón Bolívar (born July 24, 1783 in Caracas, Captaincy General of Venezuela (now Venezuela) – died December 17, 1830, in Santa Marta, Gran Colombia (now Colombia) was one of the most important leaders of Hispanic America’s successful struggle for independence from Spain along with José de San Martín, collectively known as Bolívar’s War.
After the triumph over the Spanish monarchy, Bolivar participated in the foundation of the Gran Colombia, a nation forming the liberated Spanish colonies. Bolivar became President of Gran Colombia from 1821 to 1830, President of Peru from 1824 to 1826 and President of Bolivia from 1825 to 1826. After the death of Bolivar in 1830 and the later dissolution of the Gran Colombia in 1831, Bolivar’s legacy contributed decisively to the independence of present-day Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panamá, Perú and Venezuela. Wikipedia
What Bolivar, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara tried to do with the force of arms, Huga Chavez and a gropu of new and native born Latin leaders are attempting to forge in South America. they are trying to emulate the European Union and perhaps the United States of America. The small countries of South America are trying to form a large state on the continent of South America. This new union is the largest conglomeraton of South American states. Most of the countries are left leaning and anti-
Mr. Chavez is helping all his neighbors. Even his worst critics admit that he has no torture centers, political prisoners, and he forgave those who plotted a coup against him.
BRASILIA, May 23 (Xinhua) — Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said here Friday that the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) will boost programs to help realize financial self-sufficiency in the region.
After signing the bloc’s constitutive agreement in the Brazilian capital, Correa said it was “a historical day for South America, which brings great expectation and hope.”
”We can do like the European Union (EU). As the EU has to explain why they united, we will have to explain to our children and grandchildren why we took so long to do it,” he told a press conference.
The Ecuadorian president said the integration will bring about fast and concrete results.
”We can no longer be rhetorical, and Unasur must develop itself with concrete improvements in living standard of our peoples,” he said.
In addition, Correa mentioned the project of financial integration through the Bank of the South as “fundamental.”
”We can be self-sufficient in financial terms,” said Correa, adding that, if member states keep their money “together,” they will avoid having to “kneel down to get a small loan here and there.”
Correa also spoke of the importance of cooperation in energy and transportation in the region, saying that it “would safeguard our sovereignty and enhance our capacity to make our own decisions.”
He also agreed with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on the harmonization of social and educational policies in the region.
For example, Correa said certificates are to be recognized in all Unasur countries.
Referring to Brazil’s proposal to create a South American defense council, Correa said he approved of it, although it was not his country’s priority and that it would be necessary to reach true regional consensus before turning words into action in that matter.
He called on all countries to “permanently commit to following international law,” in reference to Colombia’s military incursion into Ecuadorian territory on March 1. Editor: Feng Tao
Union of S.A. Nations born amid controversies
The South American Union of Nations was officially born Friday in Brasilia as leaders of the region’s 12 nations signed the constitutional charter, the latest of the region’s integration mechanisms. Brazil’s president, Lula da Silva, who hosted the summit, invited other Latin American and Caribbean nations to join the venture.
“Unasur is born, open to the entire region, born under the signs of diversity and pluralism,” he said. However Unasur was born with serious controversies.
Unasur’s first secretary-general, Rodrigo Borja, resigned Thursday before the organization formally met. He complained that some leaders had balked at his vision of putting other regional trade blocs, including Mercosur and the Andean Community, under Unasur. Borja said these sub-regional trade groups are loosing their original vigor and enthusiasm.
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Perú, Surinam, Uruguay and Venezuela make up Unasur.
Leaders were also split over plans for a South American Defense Council that would help prevent and solve regional conflicts and among other purposes includes the exchange of military experience; participation in UN peace keeping missions; coordinating aid to disaster areas; joint military exercises and integration of the regional military defense industries for the possible manufacture of weapons.
Colombia is the only nation that opposes joining such a council, saying “the terrorist threat” it faces at home, amid 40 years of civil conflict, precludes military cooperation. Even so, a government statement added, “Colombia does not oppose the creation of a working group to study the theme”.
“We’re not concerned about the Defence Council in this meeting, since the issue is to be debated in the second half of the year”, said Lula da Silva’s main political advisor Marco Aurelio García, who admitted that tensions in the continent remain as the main challenge to the integration project of Unasur.
Lula da Silva used his speech at the summit to urge wealthier nations to cut farm subsidies and import tariffs, and he defended bio-fuels, including ethanol, which critics blame for rising food prices.
“We should not be fooled one bit by the arguments of those, who for protectionist or geopolitical motives feel uncomfortable with our industry, our agriculture and with the realization of our energy potential” Lula da Silva told the leaders.
Unasur could ease future political tensions, promoting development on a continent where intra-regional trade topped 72 billion US dollars in 2006. South America’s economy is expected grow by 4.7% this year, according to the U.N.’s Economic Commission on Latin America. It expanded 5.7% in 2007, when foreign direct investment reached a record 106 billion US dollars as global demand for the region’s natural resources soared.
